2025 August

The August 2025 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical features our cover story on the winner of the 2025 Mechanical Contractor of the Year. Also inside, reducing hazards using radiant snow melt systsms. Read our featured columns, new products and much more!

Water leaking out of a drainpipe on top of a water heater.

How plumbers can enable insurable homes and deliver peace of mind for homeowners

Coupling installation and product expertise to save money and gain trust.

Ian Greene

August 15, 2025

To help control losses and to make insurance available to certain homes, more insurers are requiring plumbing leak detection devices as a condition of coverage, alongside smoke detector requirements that are ubiquitous throughout the industry.

Big, perfect, interesting and old red brick wall texture.

Heating Perceptions | Scott Secor

Traffic and the trades: A routine job turns into a lesson in logistics, patience and priorities

Scott Secor

August 13, 2025

We almost never charge for “add-ons” when doing large contract jobs. We are very thorough when we do estimates, and try to include everything we can think of. As a matter of fact, we have bid and won over a dozen jobs that specifically excluded “change orders.”

Compressors air conditioners on grass field.

Contractor's Corner | Dave Yates

Bacterial buildup in condensate lines presents both a challenge and a service strategy for HVAC professionals

Tackling Zoogloea

Dave Yates

July 31, 2025

If a customer complains about an air conditioning odor, mention bacteria in condensate drain pans and lines, which is bacterial zoogloea. It thrives in dark, moist, warm settings and can infest the indoor evaporator coil in extreme neglect. The bacteria feed on dust and organic matter not caught by filters.

Hydronics Workshop | John Siegenthaler

Using antifreeze vs. water in hydronic circuits

What’s the difference?

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

August 4, 2025

One concept that’s getting increasing attention among HVAC engineers is “resilient design.” It refers to approaches that - ideally - allow systems to remain operational under very abnormal conditions, or minimize effects that could cause major damage to systems when and if they are otherwise rendered inoperative.

On the Senate Media Balcony with Dain Hansen of IAPMO and Barb Donaldson of PPI.

Guest Editorial | Dan Ashenden – Group Publisher, BNP Media’s Plumbing Group

Championing water safety, accessibility and sustainability

My Summer Field Trip to Washington DC/Capitol Hill.

Dan Ashenden

August 5, 2025

One of the most powerful parts of the trip was witnessing how personal stories and local successes resonate with policymakers. Whether it was a community's struggle with water quality or the adoption of cutting-edge conservation practices, these conversations helped bridge the gap between policy and lived experience.

Matthew McClure, fifth-year apprentice with Local 51 Plumbers and Pipefitters, works on a chiller upgrade project.

2025 Mechanical Contractor of the Year: Arden Engineering Constructors

One partner, full building solutions

Natalie Forster

August 8, 2025

With over 75,000 square feet of fabrication space, cutting-edge technology, and a “Care First” safety culture that prioritizes both physical and mental well-being, Arden’s success is not just measured in projects completed—but in the trust earned across generations of clients and partners.

Random mixture of copper pipe and brass fittings.

Check valves explained: Understanding different types and applications in backflow prevention

Learn about check valve types (swing, ball, diaphragm, dual-plate) and their crucial role in backflow prevention.

Mark Ligon

August 20, 2025

Check valves are found in and around a pump system, a sump pit, or cracked open a main line. They’re everywhere. And there’s a reason they’re there: to prevent backflow. Backflow isn’t just unpleasant—it’s a serious hazard. It occurs when water or other liquids flow in the opposite direction, contaminating clean systems.

A concrete walkway partially covered with light snow.

No slips, no shutdowns: ensuring access with snow melt systems

How radiant snow melt systems are transforming winter safety around the U.S.

Kristen R. Bayles

August 12, 2025

Slip-and-fall accidents are among the most common liability claims in winter, according to AAA. Winter storms have cost billions of dollars in insured losses, just in the past few years. For businesses, that’s a major issue. In healthcare facilities where patient safety and uninterrupted access are non-negotiable, the stakes are even higher. Radiant snow melt systems can eliminate surface ice before it becomes a hazard, dramatically reducing legal exposure.

Modern Kitchen Interior With Electric Boiler And White Cabinets

The hybrid heat advantage: decarbonizing water heating for a resilient future

Hybrid water heaters are becoming the default choice in jurisdictions racing toward net-zero.

Kristen R. Bayles

August 11, 2025

Hybrid systems offer a critical bridge in the transition from fossil fuel reliance to full electrification. For contractors working in colder climates or retrofitting older homes, all-electric heat pump systems can be a tough sell. Hybrid units, however, deliver measurable emission reductions while preserving consistent output and adaptability.

Plumbing and Mechanical

Columnists

How plumbers can enable insurable homes and deliver peace of mind for homeowners

Traffic and the trades: A routine job turns into a lesson in logistics, patience and priorities

Bacterial buildup in condensate lines presents both a challenge and a service strategy for HVAC professionals

Using antifreeze vs. water in hydronic circuits

Championing water safety, accessibility and sustainability

Cover Story

2025 Mechanical Contractor of the Year: Arden Engineering Constructors

Feature Articles

Check valves explained: Understanding different types and applications in backflow prevention

No slips, no shutdowns: ensuring access with snow melt systems

The hybrid heat advantage: decarbonizing water heating for a resilient future

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